Welding aluminum



April 1, 1924. 1,489,093

R. D. MERSHON ET AL WELDING ALUMINUM Filed Dec. 8, 1919 pjwuewrova: .Ra/p/z DMers/mn @cW L WM A Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WE D. KEBSHON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND PERCY A. BOSS, OF NOBWALK, CON- N'ECTICUT; SAID BOSS ASSIGNOR T SAID MERSHON.

WELDING ALUMINUM.

Application filed December 8, 1919. Serial No. 348,266.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RALPH D. MERSHON and PERCY A. Ross, both citizens of the United States, residing at New York, county and State of New York, and Norwalk,

county of Fairfield, and State of Connecti- 'cut, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Welding Aluminum, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In prior methods for electric weldin of aluminum to aluminum orto other meta s it has been believed necessary that the parts to be joined be brought together by percussive engagement; or that a terminal of the source of welding current (say a charged condenser) be brought into contact with the parts at the point where the weld is to be made so that the welding current will flow between the parts and the terminal at the instant of contact. Our resent invention is based on the discovery t at percussive engagement of the parts, or bringlng the welding terminal into contact with the joint at the instant of discharge of the condenser, is unnecessary, and that on the contrary the parts can be arranged in the desired positions and in con tact with each other before the condenser is discharged.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the preferred way of practising our invention.

Fig. 2 is a form of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, 10, 11 are intended to represent any two parts (one or both composed of aluminum) which are to be welded together, as for example two wires which it is desired to join end to end. For this purose the wires or other parts are shaped to t nicely at the ioints where they are to be joined and are p aced one against the other in the desired position. If necessary they are held in such position by a suitable insulating clam or by any other convenient means, not dlLOWll. The two parts are also connected electrically to the terminals 13, 14, of the source of welding current, for example a condenser 15 charged by a generator 16. The connections to the terminals mentioned should be so made as to make the re sistance thereat practically nil, as for exdiagram illustrating another ranged ample by wrapping the wires tightly together, or by clamping them firm y.

One terminal of the condenser is provided with a switch 16. When the connections referred to above have been made, the switch is closed, charges across the joint 12. The sudden rush of current through this point of relatively poor conductivity produces an instantaneous rise of temperature suflicient to fuse together the contacting surfaces of the parts.

Another way of practising the invention is illustrated in Fig. 2. In this case only one terminal of the condenser is connected to the parts 10, 11, which are to be welded, and the other terminal is simply laid or held on the joint, 12, where the weld is to be made. The switch 16 is then closed. The discharge then takes place between the contacting terminal and the two parts 10, 12, at the point where they touch, with the result that the latter are fused together. It sometimes happens that the welding terminal is itself welded to one or both the other parts, in which case it is simply cut or pulled off after the weld is made.

It is'to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details herein described but may be practised in other ways without departure from its spirit.

We claim:

1. The method of welding aluminum, comprising arranging the parts in contact in the position in which they are to be welded and directly connecting the same in open circuit with both terminals of a charged condenser; and after the parts have been so arranged closing the circuit, whereby the condenser discharges at the joint between the parts and fuses them together at such point.

2. The method of welding aluminum, comprising arranging the parts in contact with each other in the sition in which they are to be welded and directly connecting the parts with a charged condenser in open circuit, one part to one terminal of the condenser and the other part to the other terminal; and after the parts have been so ardenser discharges through the joint between whereupon the condenser dis-.

closing the circuit, whereby the conthe parts and fuses them together at such stored electrical energy through the point of point. contact to cause a momentary current of rel- 10 3. The method of welding metal parts, atively high value to flow through such comprising first arranging the parts in conpoint and fuse the parts together thereat.

5 tact with each other in the position in which In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our they are to be welded, connectin the parts signatures. directly with a source of store electrical RALPH D. MERSHON. energy, and thereafter discharging such PERCY A. ROSS. 

